It’s the Friday night, home opener against Cohasset. The energy hangs in the air waiting for a spark.  People crowd the stands. The field is still empty, but there’s a sense of anticipation that envelopes the placid looking battleground.

Football games are historically exciting, especially because of a rallying force that attends every game: the cheerleaders. Junior captain of the SHS Varsity Football Cheerleaders, Maya Heger, is confident in this year’s group of girls. She referred to them as a “strong and skilled team.” Heger’s own pre-game routine is to get into an excited mindset for the game. The same goes for senior captain Maggie O’Connor. O’Connor not only feels the excitement and spirit from her own team, but she feels that same energy from the Scituate fans during the night home games.  She said these games have the most energy. Devon Smith, a junior member of the squad, agreed that night games have an intense energy.

The truth is football games wouldn’t be the same without cheerleaders. “They bring pep and spirit,” said senior Leah Block, adding, “They get people excited for the games.” Matthew Hermance, a sophomore at SHS, said the atmosphere wouldn’t be as energetic without them.

What does a school do without cheerleaders?  They can’t do without them! Principle Wargo of SHS states, “The cheerleaders have a tough job. They have to keep the fans on the edge of their seats — or hopeful toward the end of a dismal quarter.”  He said cheerleaders “streamline the energy of the crowd into supporting the team,” which brings the community closer to the game. “You don’t know what’s going to happen next.” Principal Wargo went to Xaverian Brothers High School, an all-boys Catholic school.  The team couldn’t do without cheerleaders, so Xaverian’s sister school, Ursuline Academy, provided a cheering squad, giving the fans the appropriate atmosphere for a game under the lights.

O’Connor has grown a liking for the sport over her nine years of cheering for football, she loves the anticipation of what comes next. Heger echoed O’Connor’s ideas, stating,” I like the suspense and excitement.” Whatever people think about the SHS football games, they wouldn’t be the same without the cheerleaders.